Skating was a lot different back then than it is now. I would love to see more artistry in the sport than just jumping which leads to falls for some. Besides jumping for female figure skating was coming to the forefront in '88'. The Midori's and Kristi's took skating to a new level. If the judging that is in place today was in place back then. Maybe you would have seen different skaters medal in Olympics and Worlds.
Funny but she tried to make a competetive comeback at the 94 Olympics. It really was not her best performances, she should have stayed home then. Nonetheless, she was an excellent skater and did something no one in modern history has done, won two gold medals at the olympics back to back. and a beauty to boot!
Debi was beyond rude on the podium at the olympics -- she was a poor loser and when she stepped onto the podium at the Olympics to accept her Bronze medal she completely snubbed congratulated both Katarina Witt and Liz Manly who both placed ahead of Debi at the Olympics
I remember that well...I'm surprised nobody has posted a video of it here. Very unsportsmanlike of Thomas. Witt's performance was good...not great...but still FAR better than Debi's. As I recall, Debi's butt hit the ice twice during her performance and the choreography to Carmen was nonexistent. Reminds me of the Surya Bonaly incident in 1994. People need to lose gracefully.
Yes, your memory is very accurate --- Witt's performance was good but not great --- she only did triples on the toe and loop jumps I believe and if only one other judge that evening would have given Manley a 1st place ordinal over Witt, Manley would have taken the Gold instead of silver. And yes, Debie sk8'd bad -she double footed her opening triple-triple toe comb) and she was rattled 4 the rest of her sk8. She never fell on her ass, but stumbled badly 3x total. Jill Trenary deserved bronze
thats not true. she did two 3toe loops and two 3 salchows one in combination with a double flip. manley actually won the long program that night but katarina finished 1st in the overall event.
Thanks for clarifying which jumps Kat did as triples in her '88 Olympic program -- I wasn't 100% sure when I wrote that response which jumps she did as triples but I went back and watched and you are correct - it was the Toe Loops and the Salchows that she did her triples in -- I did remember that she only did 4 triples in her Olympic program. Dick Button commented that it was far fewer than the normal number of triples that she was capable of -it was 1st time since 1983 that witt lost the LP
Refresh my memory on the Surya Bonaly incident in '94 -- I think I remember that too... was that when she refused to stand on the podium to accept the silver medal at the worlds that yr (or something akin to that behaviour)?? I don't remember who won that yr but I seem to remember an incident where they had to coax Bonaly onto the podium and she immediately removed her medal when it was presented to her -- Is my memory accurate??
I know there's a video of the Bonaly incident on here somewhere. She finished second at the '94 Worlds behind Yuka Sato. I dont remember how well either skater performed but Bonaly felt she was wronged by the judges and refused to stand on the podium during the medal ceremony. The official presenting the medals whispered something to her and put his hand on her arm and "nudged" her and she finally stepped up...
...but then she removed her medal and and kept it off...audience booing her all the way. I would LOVE to know what the man said to her...probably something like "get your butt up there or you'll never skate again". She may have deserved the gold...I dont know, but something about her has always rubbed me the wrong way. I think she's unprofessional and lacks grace, and is a little weird, frankly. But there's no excuse for her tantrum at that medal ceremony...you really have to see it.
Surly Surya refused to get on the podium to accept the silver medal. When she finally did, she immediately took the medal off and clenched it in her fist and continued feeling sorry for herself that Yuka Sato skated better than her.
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Surya Bonaley was screwwed over at the 1994 Worlds.. Yuka Sato had home ice advanage, however she was weak compared to Bonaley when it came to her jumps and spins. I can't blame her for what she did.. and in fact had I been in the same position as she was as a skater I would have done the same thing she did. She made her point and more or less it was a F*&! you to the judges... A gutzy move to say the least..
@Carpentersfan2003 I have to disagree with you. Yuka's basic skating skills blow Surya's out of the water. Yuka skates with more flow and musicality. But the real deal breaker is the fact that Surya did NOT skate cleanly. She made mistakes on her jumps and she had to skate cleanly to beat Yuka.
Sure people need to lose gracefully, but they also have to feel they are being treated fairly. Surya felt screwed over one too many times and she made it known. She was robbed blind in 93', 94' is debatable.
There is a funny story that goes along with this medal ceremony... at 3:47 - 4:08 you'll notice all 3 girls engaged in some bantering back and forthe while standing on the podium awaiting receipt of their medals. The talk amongst the 3 all started when Debi congratulated Liz and then Liz leaned back over and congratulated Debi on here recent marriage (Debi got privately wed after the Olympics and had kept the news private - so she thought). Notice Kat's look of shock as she hears the news - LOL
Skating was a lot different back then than it is now. I would love to see more artistry in the sport than just jumping which leads to falls for some. Besides jumping for female figure skating was coming to the forefront in '88'. The Midori's and Kristi's took skating to a new level. If the judging that is in place today was in place back then. Maybe you would have seen different skaters medal in Olympics and Worlds.
charismanicole 9 months ago
Wonderful Kati !
222mozart 1 year ago
Funny but she tried to make a competetive comeback at the 94 Olympics. It really was not her best performances, she should have stayed home then. Nonetheless, she was an excellent skater and did something no one in modern history has done, won two gold medals at the olympics back to back. and a beauty to boot!
HowsaBowsaYowsa 1 year ago
@HowsaBowsaYowsa i'm guessing kim yuna will try to equal witt's 2 olympic wins in russia. it's kinda funny how they're both pretty.
bluemonolith88 1 year ago
Midori Ito completely blows these 3 girls away.
randledpxy 1 year ago 2
btw the anthem was played to fast . it was played 1/3 to fast !
CarstenOepping 2 years ago
don't you DARE talk bad about Debi! she's sunshine!!
DietrichHamilton 2 years ago
Kati is a phenom and pretty too...add sexy as well...
mikonido 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Debi deserved the highest honor!
justkeela76 2 years ago
I know, I remember watching her as a kid and pulling for her. I think she slipped on jump which cost her the gold, but that's alright.
CoolScoobydoo 2 years ago 2
Debi realized she has to be a sport in everyway. what a sweet way to go!!! More power to them!!!
alwonderb0y 2 years ago 2
what happened on the podium at the olympics? was debi rude or something?
shawntaylorcassidy 3 years ago
Debi was beyond rude on the podium at the olympics -- she was a poor loser and when she stepped onto the podium at the Olympics to accept her Bronze medal she completely snubbed congratulated both Katarina Witt and Liz Manly who both placed ahead of Debi at the Olympics
kevinvisaman 3 years ago
I remember that well...I'm surprised nobody has posted a video of it here. Very unsportsmanlike of Thomas. Witt's performance was good...not great...but still FAR better than Debi's. As I recall, Debi's butt hit the ice twice during her performance and the choreography to Carmen was nonexistent. Reminds me of the Surya Bonaly incident in 1994. People need to lose gracefully.
aleutian1 3 years ago
Yes, your memory is very accurate --- Witt's performance was good but not great --- she only did triples on the toe and loop jumps I believe and if only one other judge that evening would have given Manley a 1st place ordinal over Witt, Manley would have taken the Gold instead of silver. And yes, Debie sk8'd bad -she double footed her opening triple-triple toe comb) and she was rattled 4 the rest of her sk8. She never fell on her ass, but stumbled badly 3x total. Jill Trenary deserved bronze
kevinvisaman 3 years ago
thats not true. she did two 3toe loops and two 3 salchows one in combination with a double flip. manley actually won the long program that night but katarina finished 1st in the overall event.
koolaidnhemlock 3 years ago
Thanks for clarifying which jumps Kat did as triples in her '88 Olympic program -- I wasn't 100% sure when I wrote that response which jumps she did as triples but I went back and watched and you are correct - it was the Toe Loops and the Salchows that she did her triples in -- I did remember that she only did 4 triples in her Olympic program. Dick Button commented that it was far fewer than the normal number of triples that she was capable of -it was 1st time since 1983 that witt lost the LP
kevinvisaman 2 years ago
No she didn't if she did she would have won the title.
yescanto 2 years ago 5
Refresh my memory on the Surya Bonaly incident in '94 -- I think I remember that too... was that when she refused to stand on the podium to accept the silver medal at the worlds that yr (or something akin to that behaviour)?? I don't remember who won that yr but I seem to remember an incident where they had to coax Bonaly onto the podium and she immediately removed her medal when it was presented to her -- Is my memory accurate??
kevinvisaman 2 years ago
I know there's a video of the Bonaly incident on here somewhere. She finished second at the '94 Worlds behind Yuka Sato. I dont remember how well either skater performed but Bonaly felt she was wronged by the judges and refused to stand on the podium during the medal ceremony. The official presenting the medals whispered something to her and put his hand on her arm and "nudged" her and she finally stepped up...
aleutian1 2 years ago
...but then she removed her medal and and kept it off...audience booing her all the way. I would LOVE to know what the man said to her...probably something like "get your butt up there or you'll never skate again". She may have deserved the gold...I dont know, but something about her has always rubbed me the wrong way. I think she's unprofessional and lacks grace, and is a little weird, frankly. But there's no excuse for her tantrum at that medal ceremony...you really have to see it.
aleutian1 2 years ago
Surly Surya refused to get on the podium to accept the silver medal. When she finally did, she immediately took the medal off and clenched it in her fist and continued feeling sorry for herself that Yuka Sato skated better than her.
MarxLennon1971 2 years ago 4
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Surya Bonaley was screwwed over at the 1994 Worlds.. Yuka Sato had home ice advanage, however she was weak compared to Bonaley when it came to her jumps and spins. I can't blame her for what she did.. and in fact had I been in the same position as she was as a skater I would have done the same thing she did. She made her point and more or less it was a F*&! you to the judges... A gutzy move to say the least..
Carpentersfan2003 2 years ago
@Carpentersfan2003 I have to disagree with you. Yuka's basic skating skills blow Surya's out of the water. Yuka skates with more flow and musicality. But the real deal breaker is the fact that Surya did NOT skate cleanly. She made mistakes on her jumps and she had to skate cleanly to beat Yuka.
fong03 1 year ago
Sure people need to lose gracefully, but they also have to feel they are being treated fairly. Surya felt screwed over one too many times and she made it known. She was robbed blind in 93', 94' is debatable.
AndyChen018 2 years ago 2
ein würdiger abschied für die beste eiskunstläuferin aller zeiten: KATARINA WITT! ein großartiger moment...
sunshine80dd 3 years ago 3
There is a funny story that goes along with this medal ceremony... at 3:47 - 4:08 you'll notice all 3 girls engaged in some bantering back and forthe while standing on the podium awaiting receipt of their medals. The talk amongst the 3 all started when Debi congratulated Liz and then Liz leaned back over and congratulated Debi on here recent marriage (Debi got privately wed after the Olympics and had kept the news private - so she thought). Notice Kat's look of shock as she hears the news - LOL
kevinvisaman 3 years ago 3
amazing tidbit thanks for much for sharing, its cool to hear what happened behind the scene
metsdudenj 3 years ago
thanks for sharing- liz is so cute.
koolaidnhemlock 3 years ago
Thanks for sharing! It's good to see that Debi and Kat ended on good terms.
barkingtree88 3 years ago 4